Egypt deeply concerned over plans to partially open Cyprus' Varosha

CAIRO – 21 July 2021: The Egyptian Foreign Ministry on Wednesday voiced the country’s deep concern of a planned change in the situation of the abandoned area of Varosha in Cyprus, through partially opening it.

The Egyptian ministry’s statement called the step as a violation of the UN Security Council-related resolutions.

The ministry stressed the importance of sticking to the UNSC resolutions on this issue and avoiding any unilateral actions that can escalate the situation and complicate matters.

The ministry called for full commitment to the comprehensive settlement path of the Cyprus issue, according to the international legitimacy's resolutions.

Turkish Cypriots plan to open part of the town deserted since the 1974 invasion that divided Cyprus. The plan has been widely slammed as “unacceptable”.

Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar announced on Tuesday that a 3.5 square-kilometre section of Varosha would be transferred to civilian instead of military control.

His remarks came as Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan made a visit to mark the 47th anniversary of Turkey's invasion of Cyprus.